A few weeks ago a senior citizen sent me a video. The speaker is Dr. D., a physician specializing in lifestyle medicine. Chidi Ngwaba really did a great job.
I found everything he said so interesting that I started searching his social media accounts. While doing research, I saw how a colleague introduced himself a few years ago while preparing people for a health talk.
His colleague said: “Why would a surgeon put down his scalpel to talk to his patients about diet and lifestyle? Watch my live chat with Dr Chidi Ngwaba.”
“Why does a surgeon put down his scalpel?” The part reminded me of what American inventor Thomas Edison said in 1903: “The doctor of the future will prescribe no medicine, but will teach his patient humane care.” Framework in diet and the cause and prevention of disease.
The Seventh-day Adventist Hospital in Ile-Ife, Osun State has a department where patients are treated with food and herbs.
Indeed, the future predicted by Thomas Edison has arrived. Join me on this journey and let’s take an in-depth look at nutrition and how it can make or break our health.
When we’re done, be ready to say “I do” for better health.
Nutrition is the process by which an organism is nourished, that is, provided with the nutrients its body and cells need to survive. It is an essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle.
By making conscious choices about what you eat and maintaining a balanced diet, you can improve your overall well-being, reduce the risk of chronic disease, and enjoy a longer, more satisfying life.
Remember that nutrition is not just about what you eat today, it is an investment in your future health and vitality.
By placing man in a garden after creation, God appeared to be conveying a message about the proper diet for humanity. Your gardens contain unprocessed foods, fruits, vegetables, and foods in raw form, such as cakes, donuts, puffs, and soda bottles.
But it is unfortunate that man is rebellious in eating these God-given foods. No wonder American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead said: “It is easier to change a person’s religion than to change his diet.”
When I was told to give a name to this column, I told it to my brothers and they made different suggestions. One of them made a rib-breaking joke by saying, “Eat right or you’ll die.”
It’s funny but it’s true! No matter how beneficial food is to our body, it can still be the cause of diseases if we make the wrong choices. Benjamin Franklin, a leading figure in early American history, said, “Few die of hunger, but many die of food.”
Bestselling author Dr. Mark Hyman also said: “Food is the cause of most diseases, and food is the cure.
Our ancestors were healthier; They were mostly nomadic. Hunter-gatherer culture was the way of life. The lifestyle of hunter-gatherers was based on hunting animals and gathering food.
Foraging is the act of searching for, identifying, and collecting food resources in the wild, including the wide variety of uncultivated plants, fungi, herbs, and berries that grow naturally in our environment.
I shared with you how we went to my village for holiday when I was little. At that time, the source of drinking water was a river. People drank the water and were healthy. They were able to do farm work and none of them had contracted any waterborne diseases.
I also explained that in Garkawa, Plateau province, where I was monitoring my National Youth Service Corps, there were uncovered water wells and the water became muddy after every rain.
They used water this way and were still healthy. The only answer to all this is that these people eat right. The biggest benefit of natural nutrition is that your immune system will fight infections for you.
Unlike today, we remain sedentary, and as if this is not enough, we also choose to have an unhealthy diet, which is a risk factor for many non-contagious diseases.
Many references have been made to the benefits of natural nutrition.
Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, advocated the use of food in the treatment of patients. He once said, “If you can heal the patient with food, leave your medicines in the pharmacy container” and “Let food be your medicine and your medicines be your food.”
Let me remind you of the stories I shared before.
There is a group on Facebook that I belong to that advocates avoiding carbohydrates as a way to lose weight and stay healthy.
Often due to the high incidence of unplanned pregnancies, things like “Admin, you should call my periods” are seen.
Hypertensive patients in the same group stopped taking their medications because their blood pressure returned to normal.
The truth is that good nutrition is linked to good health as well as the prevention and treatment of many health conditions.
Another group had the ‘no soda challenge’ and it was a huge success.
One member said: “This is the best period I’ve ever had in my life.”
Still doubting what proper nutrition can do to the body? Okay, this will blow your mind. In 2003, at the age of 26, Bestselling author Chris Wark was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.
He had surgery but refused chemotherapy. He used nutrition and natural treatments to heal himself. He is still alive today and cancer free!
You can’t improve your health without improving your diet. The health problem you are experiencing may not be hereditary but related to nutrition.
If someone in your family dies from diabetes, it does not mean that you will also die from the same disease. Even if it is inherited, it does not mean it is written in stone; You can break bad luck with a good diet.
A study by Martin Clarke titled ‘The Role of Nutrition in Maintaining Optimal Health’ concludes that nutrition is the cornerstone of optimal health, influencing physical, mental and emotional health.
By prioritizing nutrition and making informed food choices, individuals can optimize their well-being and enjoy a higher quality of life.
Here are some ways nutrition plays an important role:
- Increases natural immunity
Optimal nutrition not only fends off chronic health conditions but also strengthens your immune system. Consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are nutritional sources such as selenium, iron, zinc, protein, and vitamins C and D, supports the function and growth of immune cells.
- Reduces the risk of chronic conditions
Pairing optimal nutrition with healthy lifestyle choices, such as exercising regularly, not smoking or consuming excessive alcohol, is a winning combination. It plays an important role in reducing your risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.